The Examiner understands Premier Will Hodgman met some senior department secretaries yesterday afternoon to deliver the bad news.

A government spokesman said an announcement about "administrative arrangements" would be made today.

Department of Premier and Cabinet secretary Rhys Edwards is expected to be the first to go, having worked closely with three Labor premiers.

Mr Edwards has worked for the government for 10 years, including as an economic adviser to premier Jim Bacon and senior adviser to Paul Lennon.

He was appointed head of DPAC in June 2008.

It is understood his contract was renewed in the past two years under the former government, which will increase the size of the redundancy package owed to him.

Justice Department secretary Simon Overland is also believed to be on the government's hit-list.

At the time of his appointment in 2012 new Attorney- General Vanessa Goodwin said: "The fact that (Ms Giddings) has appointed Mr Overland shows a disturbing lack of judgment; or worse, a lack of care about the importance of the impartiality of this position."

Mr Overland is less than two years into his $285,000-a-year contract, believed to be for five years.

Department of Health and Human Services head Matthew Daly, appointed in early 2012, is also in danger of losing his position.

The Liberals have vowed to cut the senior executive service by 10 to save $2 million a year.

They also plan to reduce the public service by 500 full-time positions over two years.